This heavily illustrated photographic portrait of Rome gathers hundreds of photographs from the 1840s to the present, exploring the remarkable history, beauty, and art of this incomparable cultural capital. From sepia and black-and-white photographs to color, these exceptional images dating from the 1840s to today allow us — through the eyes of photographers like Giacomo Caneva, Pompeo Molins, Giuseppe Primoli, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Carlo Bavagnoli, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Pasquale De Antonis, Peter Lindbergh, Slim Aarons, and William Klein — to discover Rome in its many fascinating forms: as the center of the Roman Empire, as one of the cradles of the Renaissance, as a beloved destination for travelers, and as a rich canvas of diverse neighborhoods, as the seat of the Roman Catholic Church, a scene of political activity, and as the ideal backdrop for film and fashion shoots.

Reaching glorious archives, some of the earliest images in the book offer us a privileged glimpse into the Grand Tour at some of Rome's most treasured landmarks, revealing the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Spanish Steps almost devoid of crowds. Later, the images examine the contrasts of the city — from the luxurious residences and recreations of the privileged to the streets and laundry lines in the working-class neighborhoods of Trastevere and Testaccio. Some documentary photographs show us the dark power of Mussolini, the city adorned with his own iconography, and the image of power, athleticism, and patriotism.

As color photography emerges, the city transitions from an aesthetic neorealism to post-war recovery and hedonism: all the charming salons, exotic celebrities, and the café of Via Veneto captured by Fellini. Many famous faces are found here, including Louis Armstrong, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Marcello Mastroianni, Sophia Loren, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Anna Magnani, and Valentino.

Pages: 486, Year of Publication: 0219, Dimensions: 25x25cm